Mulberry Tree -මල්බෙරි -ඇඹිල්ල

 

Mulberry Tree

මල්බෙරි

 ඇඹිල්ල is a better Sinhala term.

I have a special relationship the mulberry tree but let me deal with the scientific facts.

The botanical name for the mulberry tree belongs to the genus Morus, in the family Moraceae. While there are many species, the three most common are the White Mulberry (Morus alba), Black Mulberry (Morus nigra) and Red Mulberry (Morus rubra).   These deciduous trees are cultivated worldwide for their fruit and in the case of white mulberry, for silkworm feed. Native to China, often used for silkworms and considered an invasive species in some areas.

Black Mulberry (Morus nigra):

Known for its intense-flavored, dark purple fruit and commonly cultivated in Europe and Asia.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra):

Red Mulberry is native to North America, known for its cold hardiness and dark purple to black fruit.

Mulberry trees, belonging to the genus Morus in the family Moraceae, are deciduous, fast-growing trees known for their edible fruits and leaves that feed silkworms. The three primary species are white (M. alba), red(M. rubra), and black (M. nigra) mulberry, with mature heights ranging from 10–20 meters. The fruit is a compound cluster of small drupes (resembling blackberries) ranging from white, pink, red, to dark purple-black when ripe. The leaves are often polymorphic (lobed, mitten, or unlobed) with serrated margins. The fruit is eaten fresh or used in jams and leaves are the primary food source for silkworms. The timber is used for furniture. White Mulberry native to China, widely used in silk production is often considered an invasive weed in parts of Australia and the US.

Mulberries are highly nutritious fruits packed with iron, Vitamin C, potassium and calcium. 

They support heart health, regulate blood sugar and improve digestive health due to their high fiber content. Rich in antioxidants like anthocyanins and resveratrol, they reduce oxidative stress and aid in skin and eye health. Mulberries are rich in vitamin C, which helps strengthen immunity. Some compounds in the fruit aid in managing glucose metabolism, which is beneficial for managing diabetes. They contain high levels of anthocyanins, which reduce inflammation and protect against free radicals. With a significant amount of dietary fiber, they aid digestion and help manage weight. They are a source of Vitamin A, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which help protect eyes from oxidative stress.

Nutrient Profile (per 1 cup, raw):

Calories: Low

Vitamin C: High

Iron: Good

Fiber: High

I am a down to earth medical man and won’t listen to American FDA, or for that matter British advice after the Independence. The British had drained off everything and the Tea Plantation had done enormous damage to our biodiversity while driving our elephants in wilderness to the Dry Zone. Our children were malnourished and below par in comparison to Western counterparts. 

We developed our own standards and immunization schedule and they were adopted by the W.H.O in 1970s. My contribution was adding M.M.R. (Mumps,Measles and Rubella) vaccine during Senior Premadasa time in the Private Sector and an astute man Mr. Ranasinghe Premadsa adopted the same in the Public Sector.

Coming back to Vitamin C in mulberry, adding a 50mg tablet daily is much cheaper than obtaining from fruits. 

Vitamin C is sour and got the private sector guys to introduce flavoured Vitamin C, called Chuvette in Negamboo. 

Every waiting child to see me or his or her siblings were given only one tablet chew free of charge.

By the way, 500mg tablets has to be cut to 10 peaces before chewing.

Suffice, is to say, I had a big clientele. 

 

Coming back to the mulberry tree, it was my wife who planted it with another local Ambul Pera (Guava) tree in our backbitten. It grew up to a considerable size in spite of pruning. Without a long stick with a fork we could not reach the fruits while all the birds and squirrels had a gala time. 

The variety of butterflies that attracted it was enormous with that the birds. Local Myna was my favourite but I never saw a Sala Lihiniya all my life in Kandy and in Panideniya.

Additionally, we cared for three palm trees. 

When seeds ripe on the palm trees various birds including crows come on daily basis taste the outer rind. I never tasted any and they ought to be tasty. 

Incidentally, the local chameleon who visits our garden to lay eggs has the habit of eating the tiny black bees who feed on the pollen of palm tree flower. 

No wonder  the tiny black bees are very sweet. 

Like the magpies, they may be eating my stupid guppy fish, too. 

The ground lizard, skinks are also rare to find now at Panideniya.